Pugh, Jim (James Edward)

He began studying piano at the age of five and trombone at the age of ten. He studied trombone with Matty Shiner of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Then at the Eastman School, he studied with Emory Remington, Donald Knaub, Chuck Mangione (director of the jazz ensemble in which Pugh played), Ray Wright and received Eastman's Performer's Certificate in 1972. He then joined the Woody Herman Band (1972-6), followed by Chick Corea through 1978. Since settling in New York, he has been in constant demand for the recording of films, records and jingles. He is a five-time recipient of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Most Valuable Player Award for trombone. Jim spent the summers of 2000 and 2003 touring with Steely Dan.

Among his concert works, his composition "Lunch with Schroedinger's Cat" received a Lincoln Center premiere in 1989 by Marin Alsop and the Concordia Chamber Orchestra. He performed the premier of his Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra in May 1992 with Robin Fountain and the Williamsport Symphony. This concerto was performed and broadcast by the NY Philharmonic in February 2000. He has played principal trombone with the EOS and Concordia chamber orchestras, St. Luke's Orchestra, the 92nd Street Y Orchestra, Orpheus, and Speculum Musicae. He is a member of the New York Trombone Quartet with fellow trombonists Joe Alessi, Ed Neumeister, and Dave Taylor. Jim premiered the newly rediscovered and reconstructed Nathaniel Shilkret Trombone Concerto in January 2003 at Carnegie Hall with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops Orchestra.

He has taught at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, at New York University and appears frequently as a guest artist/clinician at schools throughout the U.S. including Eastman, U. of North Texas, IAJE Conventions, International Trombone Association Workshops. He now teaches at Purchase College Conservatory of Music, State University of NY. Jim has been involved with the development of the Edwards small bore tenor trombone and has worked closely with Dave Monette in the development of the Monette TS11 and TS 6 small shank tenor trombone mouthpiece.
He endorses both of these products and plays Edwards trombones and Monette mouthpieces exclusively.

Awards:
He is the only trombonist to receive the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Virtuoso Award, awarded after being voted Trombone MVP by the New York recording community for five years.